Plectrum holder



Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PER, WILI-IELM JOHANSSON, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

rLnc'rnUM HOLDER Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,694.

The present invention has reference to ap pliances for holding picksemployed in striking upon the strings of certain kinds of musicalinstruments. 5 Primarily the invention has for its object to produce animproved device of the type specified by means of which a plectrum ofordinary or standard shape can be firmly and conveniently held.

A secondary object is so to construct a device for the purpose set forththat the plectrum held in the same may be quickly adjusted to vary theamplitude of the sound produced thereby and as readily detached 15 whenworn out or damaged, without the use of any tools whatsoever.

' Thirdly, the invention contemplates making a device of the naturereferred to, that not only can be held steadily but which will 0 alsoenable protracted use thereof without fatiguing the players hand.

Fourthly, the invention aims to provide a device of the kind mentioned,including a imity to the plectrum and adapted for use in tapping orknocking on the head or face of the instruments sounding box or board. Afifth object is to supply a device of the character described, composedof few, simple 0 and strong parts, not likely to become disarranged,besides'capable of economical manufacture and assembling. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious and morefully f brought out in the detailed description here e0 Referring to thesaid drawing? hard and enlarged portion disposed in prox- Figure I is atop plan view of this improved holder;

Figure II, a front elevation of the same;

Figure III, a bottom or underside plan view;

Figure IV is a side elevation, lopking from the left towards the rightof Figure II; and

Figure V, a similar elevation, but looking from the right towards theleft of Figure II.

Succintly outlined, the invention forming the subject matter hereof,comprises a handle provided at one end thereofwith a pair of jawscapable of receiving intermediately thereof, the flat sides of anordinary plectrum or string pick. Means in the nature of a screw may beemployed to draw the aforesaid aws together in order to clamp betweenthem the pick hereinbefore referred to. The head of the screw mentionedis preferably hard and relatively heavy so as to afford an auxiliaryimplement wherewith to tap or drum on the strings or sounding board ofthe instrument being played.

While the accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred and what is nowconsidered to be the best form of the invention, it will be observedthat the same is shown or described herein by way of example only, andthat other serviceable embodiments of this improved holder are withinthe range of practical achievement, whether containing the totality or aless number of the novel features of construction herein disclosed.

Before commencing the detailed description of the invention, it will bestated, in order to convey a clearer idea of the scope thereof, thatsuch parts of the improved device as are indicated by letters of thealphabet throughout the present specification and accompanying drawing,appertain, strictly U speaking, to a known species of musical stringpick. On the other hand, those parts of the device, which are designatedby numerals, may be considered as entirely belonging to the invention.It is understood that no claim is made to any of the known partsaforesaid as possessed of actual originality, save that thru theirassociation with the various elements of the improved plectrum holder,they form a number of combinations serving to accomplish several new anduseful purposes.

Having now particular reference to Figures I and III of the annexeddrawing, the letter A denotes an ordinary plectrum or string pick ofsubstantially pyriform outline, consisting of celluloid, hard rubber orother suitable material, about or slightly less in thickness. As iscommon in these kinds of implements. one end of the plectruin made morepointed than the other, as indicated at B.

The peculiar construction and arrangement of the elements of which theholder forming the subject matter of this invention is composed, willnow be described with particularity. Referring first to Figure II, itwill be perceived that the holder in question comprises an extendedhandle portion 11 of approximately uniform thickness thruout, asrepresented at 13, but which is tapered widthwise or in the direction ofthe depth thereof. Thus it will. be noticed, that the free or outerextremity 15 of this handle is wider or broader than the inner oropposite terminal 17 thereof. Beyond the latter projects a tenon. shapedshank 19 which, as will be observed, is slightly offset from 01' standsin angular relation to both the top and bottom edges 11a and 11?), ofthe handle portion proper.

It will be seen that the shank spoken of, stands at right angles, ornearly so, to the smaller transverse end 17 of the handle 11, beingbesides, somewhat narrower and thinner than the said end. The objecthereof will be hereinafter pointed out. A short distance inwardly fromthe reduced extremity 17, the said handle is furnished with a kerf 21,which may be in the nature of a chamfer of limited length cut into theupper rear edge 11a of said handle 11. The purpose of the aforementionedkerf is for the convenience of the operator, to place the point of hisor her index finger therein in order to afiord a firm and steady grip onthe handle portion and avoid fatigue in prolonged use of the same. Forthe handle 11, horn, fibre. wood or other appropriate substances may beemployed.

The before named shank 19 fits in and is adapted to be entered into asocket-like recess 23 formed in the adjacent terminal of a tang part 25,constituting a continuation or extension to the handle portion 11. Itwill be noted that a small pin or rivet 27 is represented as beingdriven thru the walls of the socket l3 and the hand les shank 19 so asto prevent disassoeiation therebetween. The tang which may be made ofmetal if desired, has its outer extremity bifurcated as shown at 29,thus providing upper and lower jaws separated by a space or slot 31. Thelatter reaches inwardly of the said tang, a predetermined distance, asseen most clearly at 33, Figure II. Intermediately of the jaws 29,either or both whereof may be flexible, is received the plectrum A, andsaid pick, by virtue of the length and open sides of the slot 31, iscapable of adjustment therein, both angularly and longitudinally as wellas laterally. It will be understood, that the quality of tone producedin picking on the strings of the instrument being played, varies withthe freedom of vibration allowed the plectrum, which in turn isdependent upon the projection and location of said pick in or beyond theaws 29.

The means for causing the jaws to clamp the said plectruni in itsassigned position, may advantageously consist of a screw 35. threadedinto a tapped aperture provided therefor, preferably in the lower one ofthese jaws, and passing thru a clearance opening 35", in the upper orcompanion aw. T ightening or loosening of the screw 35, which asdepicted in dotted lines, can have a head 37 of the thumb or wing type,will obviously squeeze the plectrum A interadjar-ent the said jaws orrelease it therefrom.

Both to enhance the gripping power of the operatofs fingers on the head37 for manipulation of the screw 35, and also provide a cap. knocker orbutton 39 by means of which the strings or head of a banjo, mandolin orsimilar instrument may be beaten or tapped upon, to produce soundsoccurring in so-called jazz music. Said cap 39 is preferably made ofsome hard substance, such as vulcanite or the like, and is formed with acavity 39 (see Figure II) taking over the said screw head 37 and securedthereto by cementing, crimping, or in any other suitable manner.

Notwithstanding, that the tang 25 and the handle 11 are shownas composedof conjoined but separate parts. no limitation is intended in thisrespect, .as they can equally as well be made of one or integral pieceof material. Altho Figures I and III of the accompanying drawingindicate that the sides of the aforementioned parts are flush orsituated in the same parallel planes, it will be comprehended, thisaspect or disposition of the parts may be varied one way or the other.to suit the design or appearance of the holder. \Vhile it has been shownthat the parts referred to are to a certain extent offset or detlectedfrom being in a straight alignment, it is obvious that this relation canalso be modified to fit other conditions.

In its broader aspects. the invention is not limited to the precisefeatures of construction and arrangementof elements herein shown anddescribed. nor to any particular means by which it can be carried intoeffect, as many changes may be made in the details without departingfrom the principles of the invention or sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

hat Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States. and claimis 1. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anextended handle portion, and a pair of rigidly connected fiexible spacedjaws extending therefrom and having flat faces for frictionally seizingthe plectrum there'be'tween, and means for releasably drawing the jawspositively together to clamp the plectrum firmly in its assigned position; v w

2. A plectrum holder including an elongate handle of greater depth thanwidth, opposed flexible spaced jaws projecting from one end of saidhandle to receive between them a plectrum lying in a plane substantiallyparallel with the width of the handle, and means operable in a planeapproximately at right angles to the plane of said plectrum forpositively drawing the said jaws together upon the latter.

3; A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including alongitudinally extended fiat handle, a pair of rigidly fixed flexiblejaws at one extremity of the latter, said aws being formed withapproximately parallel iaces spaced to have inserted between them aplectrum disposed at substantially right angles to the widthwisedimension of said handle, and means for positively and releasablydrawing the aws together to frictionally seize said plectrumtherebetween.

&. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anelongate handle portion, a pair of rigidly connected, resilient, spacedjaws extending from one end of the same and having parallel adjacentfaces for adjustably receiving the plectrum flatwise between them, andmeans for positively and releasably drawing said jaws together to retainsaid plectrum in adjusted position.

.5. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anextended handle portion, rigidly connected flexible spaced jawsextending endwise therefrom and separated by an intervening gap, thelatter having straight opposed faces for receiving a fiat plectrumtherebetween, and a screw operatively connected with said jaws toreleasably clamp the plectrum between the jaws to retain the plectrumfirmly in adjusted position.

6. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anelongate handle, rigidly connected, flexible spaced jaws extending inoffset alignment from one end thereof, said jaws being provided with comparatively large areas shaped when the jaws are tightly closed to lieupon and firmly hold a fiat plectrum therebetween, said handle having asubstantially flat side, and a screw engaging the jaws and having itsaxis substantially parallel to said flat side to exert a clamping actionto draw the said jaws positively but releasably together.

7. A plectrum holder including an extended handle, relatively movablespaced jaws at one extremity thereof adapted to receive a plectrumbetween them, said jaws being closable to grip said plectrumtherebetween, a screw controlling the said jaws, and a knocker carriedby said screw.

8. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anelongate handle, an extension connected to said handle and provided withopposed spaced jaws flexible to a predetermined degree for receiving aplectrum flatwise between them, means for releasably and positivelydrawing said jaws together to clamp the plectrum frictionallytherebetween, and socket means connecting said handle and saidextension.

9. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments including anextended handle provided with flexible spaced jaws tor receiving whenclosed a plectrum therebetween, one of said jaws having a threadedopening therethru while the other aw is provided with a plain bore thruit, and a screw formed with a threaded portion engaging thecorresponding threads of said opening, the shank part of said screwextending thru said bore, the said screw serving to draw the jawstogether upon opposite sides of the plectrum to clamp the same in itsassigned position.

10. A plectrum holder for stringed musical instruments comprising anelongate handle, spaced jaws carried at one end of the same, one of saidjaws being flexible toward the other, the said jaws including opposedfaces for frictionally seizing the opposite sides of a flat plectrumtherebetween when the flexible aw is brought against the latter, and ascrew passing thru both jaws having threaded engagement with onethereof. rotation of said screw forcing the jaws together to clamp themupon said plectrum, the aws holding the plectrum suiiiciently tight inany one of several adjustments relative to said handle.

11. A plectrum holder including relatively movable spaced jaws adaptedto close upon a plectrum received fiatwise between them, an elongatehandle extending from one end of said aws, a knocker disposed to oneside of the jaws outwardly beyond the latter, and a screw secured tosaid knocker in position to clampingly control the said aws.

PER WILHELM JOHANSSON.

